Mission Mission

There will be a Grease Sing-a-Long this Saturday at Dolores Park.

You might want to just check out some garage sales that day.

[via SFist, SFGate]

Celebrate the birthday of your favorite eccentric, Jehova’s witnessing, conspiracy theorizing, pop musical genius with the Jazz Mafia. Tonight will be their 4th annual Prince birthday tribute at Coda Lounge, featuring the 20-piece hip hop jazz orchestra Realistic Orchestra.

It’s definitely going to be crowded so I highly recommend you get there early (and stay away from those chemtrails).

[photo by thebaytaper]

Last weekend I decided that I really love garage and sidewalk sales. In two short days, I scored a first pressing of “Rat On!” by Swamp Dog, a OneWorld Merlin Digital Lifestyle Solution, and an ethnic baby for two dollars total. Not a bad haul.

To help support my habit, I have added a sidebar widget for craigslist postings of garage sales in the Mission area. It’s good for you and good for the sellers. Scroll down to the bottom of the Mission Mission main page to see it and map out your route for Saturday morning.

In addition to the already mentioned Music Flea Market on 19th and Florida, here are some highlights:

• PORNO AND PROJECTORS WHICH CAN HYPOTHETICALLY BE USED FOR VIEWING PORNO – Chavez b/t Folsom and Harrison
• Make him an offer he can’t understand! – ???
• Bethel Christian Church Ginormo-sale – 1325 Valencia St

Go to it, scavengers. And save some junk for me.

Fact: hot women who play music are, um, really hot. Bonus points if they aren’t just strumming on a folk guitar singing about boys the’ve broken up with. Give me a cello, accordion, and mandolin over that any time.

La Gaîté is on tour from Amsterdam and they will be playing at Revolution Cafe tomorrow night (Saturday, June 5) starting at 9pm. This is somehow appropriate since all the stoners who hang out on the patio of the Rev make it the closest thing to Amsterdam that we’ve got.

Check out this video of them demonstrating their musicianship to great effect (while wearing French maid outfits):

If you miss ‘em, you can also catch them at Armando’s Sunday night, but that would require going to Martinez, and I’m not entirely sure I know where that is. They will also be playing the big gypsy jazz fest in Mill Valley next week.

Fresh off its lengthy winter hibernation, Indie Mart is finally back!  I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday:  leisurely strolling along a closed-off city block while sipping a bloody mary (on par with Zeitgeist’s) and scoping the latest offerings from local fashion designers.  The fact that the weather is supposed to be hovering around the 80s seals the deal.

Indie Mart has evolved since its humble beginnings into an all-day block party extravaganza, and this Sunday’s 3 year anniversary promises to be the biggest yet.  Over 100 designers will be strutting their stuff, and it’s not just clothes–you can find art, crafts (I scored an awesome wallet a year or two ago that I still use today), baked treats for the foodies, puppies for adoption, and even terrarium construction!  PBR is helping to sponsor the event, so be on the lookout for all sorts of rapaciously evil corporate giveaways as well.

Dress stylishly enough and you could even wind up on fashioni.st!  Or, dress metal enough and receive patches and goodies from the roving metal girls on hand from Heavy Metal Aerobics.  Or, just hang out and watch some of the cool bands that are performing like Music for Animals and Jonesin’. 

The fun happens this Sunday from 12-6pm at Thee Parkside and thee adjacent Wisconsin (between 16th and 17th St).  See you there!

[Photo by Owen Geronimo]

Zambaleta started doing these Music Flea Market events last summer and I’m stoked that they are back for the new season. The next one is this Saturday, June 5th at 19th and Florida from 12-5pm

It’s basically a Mission street sale except the items for sale are mostly musical instruments (if you’re a musician, this is the main reason you go to flea markets anyway). In addition, there are other music related items for sale including records and home audio equipment.

Feel free to bring some stuff down to sell on the provided tables or leave items with the coordinators to sell on consignment for the day, for a small percentage. There will be live music and food.

[photo by prawnpie]

Probably my favorite bay area band, The California Honeydrops, just got back from touring the Netherlands and are playing at Revolution Cafe tonight. Rev has their alcohol serving privileges restored, for now… so it’s safe to go back.

Go listen to some infectious rhythm and blues, ask them about the Dutch, and try to figure out what those chest-high curvy things are supposed to be used for new parklet installation. The ‘drops drop at 8pm and will be playing ’til 11pm. There’s no cover charge, so be sure to tip.

[photo by mhwing]

Previously:

The California Honeydrops Talk BART Busking

"Castle of Sin" 1978

Did you really think that role-playing / fantasy geeks actually give a shit about wizards and broadswords and stuff? The truth is, they are in it for the voluptuous fantasy babes. No one understood this better than legendary painter and apparent ass man Frank Frazetta, who passed away Monday.

In his honor, Mission Comics & Art is hosting a “Memorial Drink and Draw,” featuring live art, music, and models. I assume “models” means Vampirella-type female models, but it could very well mean paintable Warhammer 40000 pewter models. Attend at your own risk.

The event starts at 8pm tomorrow at 3520 20th St. More info at on their blog.

Ok, maybe I was asking a little much when I demanded  200-word-or-less essays for two (2) free tickets to the awesome event happening at the Cal Academy of Sciences this Saturday, DAWN 2010, featuring Fool’s Gold, Gary Shteyngart, and more.

So, we’re going to make things a little easier for you:  Science-themed music videos!  In the comments below, list the artist and song title (and a Youtube link would be nice) for your favorite sciency video.  If the song is about science too, even better!  Entries will be judged according to a proprietary algorithm (not really).  You have until 11:59pm Thursday, so get cracking!  And no fair using Carl Sagan et al; that’s too easy.

Pro-tip:  DIY hybrids such as Joy Division’s “Disorder” over scenes from 2001: Space Odyssey and Crystal Castles’ “Black Panther” over scenes from TRON are totally cool.

Previously:

Win FREE Tickets to Party Like It’s Shavuot at the Cal Academy of Sciences

In honor of Bike To Work Day, Timbuk2 is hosting a party tomorrow at their new mission digs (583 Shotwell at 20th). There will be free food, music, and a brand of beer that may or may not have won a blue ribbon in 1893. And who knows, if you ask nice and sign a waiver, they might let you ride the Death Trap mutant bicycle. Staff will be on hand to repair bags if you got ‘em, too. The event goes from “5pm ’til you leave,” so be sure to bring a sleeping bag (don’t really do that).

For your commute home, they will also be hosting an Energizer Station at Mission playground on 19th and Valencia with drinks and snacks, from 5-7pm. More info here.

Allan and I got to tour the facilities last week and had a swell time. I was really impressed that Timbuk2 head honcho Mike bikes to work at least 3 times a week. “Big deal”, you say. Well, he does it from Novato which is 38 miles each way. This month, he’s doing it every day. I hope his office has in-house showers.

(Photo by Savage13)